Chapter 15

Thereupon the skilful servant, He the servant paid with wages, Put the colt into the harness, Yoked before the sledge the chestnut, And provided six fine cuckoos, Seven blue birds at once provided, 410 That upon the frame should perch them, And should sing their cheerful music; And a bearskin next provided, That his lord should sit upon it, And another hide of walrus, And with this the sledge he covered.

Then the smith, e'en Ilmarinen, He the great primeval craftsman, Sent aloft his prayer to Ukko, And he thus besought the Thunderer: 420 "Scatter forth thy snow, O Ukko, Let the snowflakes soft be drifted, That the sledge may glide o'er snowfields, O'er the snow-drifts gliding swiftly."

Then the snow did Ukko scatter, And the snowflakes soft were drifted, Till the heath-stems all were covered, On the ground the berry-bushes.

Then the smith, e'en Ilmarinen, In his sledge of iron sat him, 430 And he spoke the words which follow, And in words like these expressed him: "On my reins attend good fortune, Jumala my sledge protecting, That my reins good fortune fail not, Nor my sledge may break, O Jumala!"

In one hand the reins he gathered, And the whip he grasped with other, O'er the horse the whip he brandished, And he spoke the words which follow: 440 "Whitebrow, speed thou quickly onward, Haste away, O flaxen-maned one."

On the way the horse sprang forward, On the water's sandy margin, By the shores of Sound of Sima, Past the hills with alders covered. On the shore the sledge went rattling, On the beach the shingle clattered. In his eyes the sand was flying, To his breast splashed up the water. 450 Thus he drove one day, a second, Drove upon the third day likewise, And at length upon the third day, Overtook old Väinämöinen, And he spoke the words which follow, And in words like these expressed him: "O thou aged Väinämöinen, Let us make a friendly compact, That although we both are seeking, And we both would woo the maiden, 460 Yet by force we will not seize her, Nor against her will shall wed her."

Said the aged Väinämöinen, "I will make a friendly compact, That we will not seize the maiden, Nor against her will shall wed her. Let the maiden now be given To the husband whom she chooses, That we nurse not long vexation, Nor a lasting feud be fostered." 470

Further on their way they travelled, On the path that each had chosen; Sped the boat, the shore re-echoed, Ran the horse, the earth resounded.

But a short time passed thereafter, Very short the time elapsing, Ere the grey-brown dog was barking, And the house-dog loudly baying, In the gloomy land of Pohja, Sariola, for ever cloudy, 480 Sooner still the dog was growling, But with less-continued growling, By the borders of the cornfield, 'Gainst the ground his tail was wagging.

Then exclaimed the Lord of Pohja, "Go, my daughter, to discover Why the grey-brown dog is barking, And the long-eared dog is baying."

But the daughter made him answer: "I have not the time, my father, 490 I must clean the largest cowshed, Tend our herd of many cattle, Grind the corn between the millstones, Through the sieve must sift the flour, Grind the corn to finest flour, And the grinder is but feeble."

Gently barked the castle's Hiisi, And again the dog was growling, And again said Pohja's Master: "Go, old dame, and look about you, 500 See why barks the grey-brown house-dog, Why the castle-dog is growling."

But the old dame made him answer: "This is not a time for talking, For my household cares are heavy, And I must prepare the dinner, And must bake a loaf enormous, And for this the dough be kneading, Bake the loaf of finest flour, And the baker is but feeble." 510

Thereupon said Pohja's Master: "Women they are always hurried, And the maidens always busy, When before the stove they roast them, When they in their beds are lying; Son, go you, and look around you."

Thereupon the son made answer: "I've no time to look about me; I must grind the blunted hatchet, Chop a log of wood to pieces, 520 Chop to bits the largest wood-pile, And to faggots small reduce it. Large the pile, and small the faggots, And the workman of the weakest."

Still the castle-dog was barking, And the yard-dog still was barking, And the furious whelp was baying, And the island watch-dog howling, Sitting by the furthest cornfield, And his tail was briskly wagging. 530

Then again said Pohja's Master, "Not for nought the dog is barking, Never has he barked for nothing, Never growls he at the fir-trees."

So he went to reconnoitre, And he walked across the courtyard, To the cornfield's furthest borders, To the path beyond the ploughed land. Gazed he where the dog's snout pointed, Where he saw his muzzle pointing, 540 To the hill where storms are raging, To the hills where grow the alders, Then he saw the truth most clearly, Why the grey-brown dog was barking, And the pride of earth was baying, And the woolly-tailed one howling, For he saw a red boat sailing Out amid the Bay of Lempi, And a handsome sledge was driving On the shore of Sound of Sima. 550

After this the Lord of Pohja To the house returned directly, And beneath the roof he hastened, And he spoke the words which follow: "There are strangers swiftly sailing O'er the blue lake's watery surface, And a gaudy sledge is gliding On the shore of Sound of Sima; And a large boat is approaching To the shore of Bay of Lempi." 560

Then said Pohjola's old Mistress, "Whence shall we obtain an omen Why these strangers here are coming? O my little waiting-maiden, On the fire lay rowan-faggots. And the best log in its glowing. If the log with blood is flowing, Then the strangers come for battle, If the log exudes clear water, Then is peace abiding with us." 570

Then the little maid of Pohja, She, the modest waiting-maiden, On the fire laid rowan-faggots, Placed the best log in its glowing. From the log no blood was trickling, Nor did water trickle from it; From the log there oozed forth honey, From the log dripped down the nectar.

From the corner spoke Suovakko, Spoke the old dame 'neath the blankets: 580 "From the log if oozes honey, From the log if drips the nectar, Then the strangers who are coming, May be ranked as noble suitors."

Then did Pohja's aged Mistress, Pohja's old dame, Pohja's daughter, To the courtyard fencing hasten, Hurry quick across the courtyard, And they gazed across the water, To the south their heads then turning, 590 And they saw from thence approaching, Swift a ship of novel fashion, Of a hundred planks constructed, Out upon the Bay of Lempi. Underneath the boat looked bluish, But the sails of crimson colour. In the stern there sat a hero, At the copper rudder's handle, And they saw a stallion trotting With a red sledge strange of aspect, 600 And the gaudy sledge was speeding On the shore of Sound of Sima, And they saw six golden cuckoos, Perching on the frame, and calling, Seven blue birds were likewise perching On the reins, and these were singing; And a stalwart hero, sitting In the sledge, the reins was holding.

Then said Pohjola's old Mistress, And she spoke the words which follow: 610 "Whom will you accept as husband, If they really come to woo you, As a life-companion woo you, Dove-like in his arms to nestle?

"He who in the boat is sailing, In the red boat fast approaching, Out upon the Bay of Lempi, Is the aged Väinämöinen. In the boat he brings provisions, And of treasures brings a cargo. 620

"He who in the sledge is driving, In the gaudy sledge is speeding, On the shore of Sound of Sima, Is the smith named Ilmarinen. He with empty hands is coming; Filled his sledge with spells of magic.

"Therefore if the room they enter, Bring them then the mead in tankard, In the two-eared tankard bring it, And in his hands place the tankard 630 Whom thou dost desire to follow; Choose thou Väinölä's great hero, He whose boat with wealth is loaded, And of treasures brings a cargo."

But the lovely maid of Pohja, Thus made answer to her mother: "O my mother who hast borne me, O my mother who hast reared me, Nothing do I care for riches, Nor a man profound in wisdom, 640 But a man of lofty forehead, One whose every limb is handsome. Never once in former ages, Gave a maid her life in thiswise. I, a maid undowered, will follow Ilmarinen, skilful craftsman, He it was who forged the Sampo, And the coloured cover welded."

Then said Pohja's aged Mistress, "O indeed, my child, my lambkin, 650 If you go with Ilmarinen, From whose brow the sweat falls freely, You must wash the blacksmith's aprons, And the blacksmith's head wash likewise."

But the daughter gave her answer, In the very words which follow: "Him from Väinölä I choose not, Nor an aged man will care for, For an old man is a nuisance, And an aged man would vex me." 660

Then did aged Väinämöinen Reach his journey's end the soonest, And he steered his crimson vessel, Brought his boat of bluish colour To the rollers steel-constructed, To the landing-stage of copper. After this the house he entered, Underneath the roof he hastened, And upon the floor spoke loudly, Near the door beneath the rafters, 670 And he spoke the words which follow, And expressed himself in thiswise: "Wilt thou come with me, O maiden, Evermore as my companion, Wife-like on my knees to seat thee, In my arms as dove to nestle?"

Then the lovely maid of Pohja, Answered in the words which follow: "Have you then the boat constructed, Built the large and handsome vessel, 680 From the splinters of my spindle, From the fragments of my shuttle?"

Then the aged Väinämöinen Answered in the words which follow: "I have built a noble vessel And a splendid boat constructed, Strongly built to face the tempests, And the winds its course opposing, As It cleaves the tossing billows, O'er the surface of the water, 690 Bladder-like amid the surges, As a leaf, by current drifted, Over Pohjola's wide waters, And across the foaming billows."

Then the lovely maid of Pohja, Answered in the words which follow: "Nothing do I reck of seamen, Heroes boasting of the billows! Drives the wind their minds to ocean, And their thoughts the east wind saddens: 700 Therefore thee I cannot follow, Never pledge myself unto thee, Evermore as thy companion, In thy arms as dove to nestle, Spread the couch whereon thou sleepest, For thy head arrange the pillows."

RUNO XIX.--THE EXPLOITS AND BETROTHAL OF ILMARINEN

_Argument_

Ilmarinen arrives at the homestead of Pohjola, woos the daughter of the house, and perilous tasks are assigned to him (1-32). Aided by the advice of the Maiden of Pohja he succeeds in performing the tasks successfully. Firstly, he ploughs a field of serpent, secondly, he captures the Bear of Tuoni and the Wolf of Manala, and thirdly, he captures a large and terrible pike in the river of Tuonela (33-344). The Mistress of Pohjola promises and betroths her daughter to Ilmarinen (345-498). Väinämöinen returns from Pohjola in low spirits, and warns every one against going wooing in company with a younger man (499-518).

Then the smith, e'en Ilmarinen, He the great primeval craftsman, Came himself into the chamber, And beneath the roof he hastened.

Brought the maid of mead a beaker, Placed a can of drink of honey In the hands of Ilmarinen, And the smith spoke out as follows: "Never while my life is left me, Long as shines the golden moonlight, 10 Will I taste the drink before me, Till my own is granted to me, She for whom so long I waited, She for whom so long I pined for."

Then said Pohjola's old Mistress, In the very words which follow: "Trouble great befalls the suitor, Comes to her for whom he waiteth; One shoe still remains unfitted, And unfitted is the other; 20 But the bride is waiting for you, And you may indeed receive her, If you plough the field of vipers, Where the writhing snakes are swarming, But without a plough employing, And without a ploughshare guiding. Once the field was ploughed by Hiisi, Lempo seamed it next with furrows, With the ploughshare formed of copper, With the plough in furnace smelted; 30 But my own son, most unhappy, Left the half untilled behind him."

Then the smith, e'en Ilmarinen, Sought the maiden in her chamber, And he spoke the words which follow: "Night's own daughter, twilight maiden, Do you not the time remember, When I forged the Sampo for you, And the brilliant cover welded, And a binding oath thou sweared'st, 40 By the God whom all men worship, 'Fore the face of Him Almighty, And you gave a certain promise Unto me, the mighty hero, You would be my friend for ever, Dove-like in my arms to nestle? Nothing will your mother grant me, Nor will she her daughter give me, Till I plough the field of vipers, Where the writhing snakes are swarming." 50

Then his bride assistance lent him, And advice the maiden gave him: "O thou smith, O Ilmarinen, Thou the great primeval craftsman! Forge thyself a plough all golden, Cunningly bedecked with silver, Then go plough the field of serpents, Where the writhing snakes are swarming."

Then the smith, e'en Ilmarinen, Laid the gold upon the anvil, 60 Worked the bellows on the silver, And he forged the plough he needed, And he forged him shoes of iron; Greaves of steel he next constructed, And with these his feet he covered, Those upon his shins he fastened; And he donned an iron mail-coat, With a belt of steel he girt him, Took a pair of iron gauntlets, Gauntlets like to stone for hardness; 70 Then he chose a horse of mettle, And he yoked the steed so noble, And he went to plough the acre, And the open field to furrow. There he saw the heads all rearing, Saw the heads that hissed unceasing, And he spoke the words which follow: "O thou snake, whom God created, You who lift your head so proudly, Who is friendly and will hearken, 80 Rearing up your head so proudly, And your neck so proudly lifting; From my path at once remove you, Creep, thou wretch, among the stubble, Creeping down among the bushes, Or where greenest grass is growing! If you lift your head from out it, Ukko then your head shall shatter, With his sharp and steel-tipped arrows, With a mighty hail of iron." 90

Then he ploughed the field of vipers, Furrowed all the land of serpents, From the furrows raised the vipers, Drove the serpents all before him, And he said, returning homeward: "I have ploughed the field of vipers, Furrowed all the land of serpents, Driven before me all the serpents: Will you give me now your daughter, And unite me with my darling?" 100

Then did Pohjola's old Mistress, Answer in the words which follow: "I will only give the maiden, And unite you with my daughter, If you catch the Bear of Tuoni, Bridle, too, the Wolf of Mana, Far in Tuonela's great forest, In the distant realms of Mana. Hundreds have gone forth to yoke them; Never one returned in safety." 110

Then the smith, e'en Ilmarinen, Sought the maiden in her chamber, And he spoke the words which follow: "Now the task is laid upon me, Manala's fierce wolves to bridle, And to hunt the bears of Tuoni, Far in Tuonela's great forest, In the distant realms of Mana."

Then his bride assistance lent him, And advice the maiden gave him. 120 "O thou smith, O Ilmarinen, Thou the great primeval craftsman! Forge thee bits, of steel the hardest, Forge thee muzzles wrought of iron, Sitting on a rock in water, Where the cataracts fall all foaming. Hunt thou then the Bears of Tuoni, And the Wolves of Mana bridle."

Then the smith, e'en Ilmarinen, He the great primeval craftsman, 130 Forged him bits, of steel the hardest, Forged him muzzles wrought of iron, Sitting on a rock in water, Where the cataracts fall all foaming.

Then he went the beasts to fetter, And he spoke the words which follow: "Terhenetar, Cloudland's daughter! With the cloud-sieve sift thou quickly, And disperse thy mists around me, Where the beasts I seek are lurking, 140 That they may not hear me moving, That they may not flee before me."

Then the Wolf's great jaws he muzzled, And with iron the Bear he fettered, On the barren heaths of Tuoni, In the blue depths of the forest. And he said, returning homeward: "Give me now your daughter, old one. Here I bring the Bear of Tuoni, And the Wolf of Mana muzzled." 150

Then did Pohjola's old Mistress Answer in the words which follow: "I will give you first the duckling, And the blue-winged duck will give you, When the pike, so huge and scaly, He the fish so plump and floundering. You shall bring from Tuoni's river, And from Manala's abysses; But without a net to lift it, Using not a hand to grasp it. 160 Hundreds have gone forth to seek it, Never one returned in safety."

Then there came distress upon him, And affliction overwhelmed him, As he sought the maiden's chamber, And he spoke the words which follow: "Now a task is laid upon me, Greater still than all the former; For the pike, so huge and scaly, He the fish so plump and floundering, 170 I must bring from Tuoni's river, From the eternal stream of Mana, But with neither snare nor drag-net, Nor with help of other tackle."

Then his bride assistance lent him, And advice the maiden gave him. "O thou smith, O Ilmarinen, Do thou not be so despondent! Forge thee now a fiery eagle. Forge a bird of fire all flaming! 180 This the mighty pike shall capture, Drag the fish so plump and floundering, From the murky stream of Tuoni, And from Manala's abysses."

Then the smith, e'en Ilmarinen, Deathless artist of the smithy, Forged himself a fiery eagle, Forged a bird of fire all flaming, And of iron he forged the talons, Forged the claws of steel the hardest, 190 Wings like sides of boat constructed; Then upon the wings he mounted, On the eagle's back he sat him, On the wing-bones of the eagle.

Then he spoke unto the eagle, And the mighty bird instructed: "O my eagle, bird I fashioned, Fly thou forth, where I shall order, To the turbid stream of Tuoni, And to Manala's abysses: 200 Seize the pike, so huge and scaly, He the fish so plump and floundering."

Then the bird, that noble eagle, Took his flight, and upward soarings, Forth he flew the pike to capture, Fish with teeth of size terrific, In the river-depths of Tuoni, Down in Manala's abysses: To the water stretched a pinion, And the other touched the heavens; 210 In the sea he dipped his talons, On the cliffs his beak he whetted.

Thus the smith, e'en Ilmarinen, Journeyed forth to seek his booty In the depths of Tuoni's river, While the eagle watched beside him. From the water rose a kelpie And it clutched at Ilmarinen, By the neck the eagle seized it, And the kelpie's head he twisted. 220 To the bottom down he forced it, To the black mud at the bottom.

Then came forth the pike of Tuoni, And the water-dog came onward. Not a small pike of the smallest, Nor a large pike of the largest; Long his tongue as twain of axe-shafts, Long his teeth as rake-shaft measures, Wide his gorge as three great rivers, Seven boats' length his back extended, 230 And the smith he sought to seize on, And to swallow Ilmarinen.

But the eagle rushed against him, And the bird of air attacked him; Not an eagle of the small ones, Nor an eagle of the large ones. Long his beak as hundred fathoms, Wide his gorge as six great rivers, Six spears' length his tongue extended, Five scythes' length his talons measured 240 And he saw the pike so scaly, Saw the fish so plump and floundering. Fiercely on the fish he darted, Rushed against the fish so scaly.

Then the pike so large and scaly, He the fish so plump and floundering, Tried to drag the eagle's pinions Underneath the sparkling waters, But the eagle swift ascended, Up into the air he raised him, 250 From the grimy ooze he raised him, To the sparkling water o'er it.

Back and forth the eagle hovered, And again he made an effort, And he struck one talon fiercely In the pike's terrific shoulders, In the water-dog's great backbone, And he fixed the other talon Firmly in the steel-hard mountain, In the rocks as hard as iron. 260 From the stone slipped off the talon, Slipped from off the rocky mountain, And the pike again dived downward, In the water slid the monster, Slipped from off the eagle's talons, From the great bird's claws terrific, But his sides were scored most deeply, And his shoulders cleft asunder.

Once again, with iron talons, 270 Swooped again the furious eagle, With his wings all fiery glowing, And his eyes like flame that sparkled, Seized the pike with mighty talons, Grasped the water-dog securely, Dragged the huge and scaly monster, Raised him from the tossing water, From the depths beneath the billows, To the water's sparkling surface.

Then the bird with claws of iron Made a third and final effort, 280 Brought the mighty pike of Tuoni, He the fish so plump and floundering, From the river dark of Tuoni, And from Manala's abysses. Scarce like water flowed the water From the great pike's scales stupendous; Nor like air the air extended When the great bird flapped his pinions.